Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.

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A popular leaf crop in Africa, where the plant is often cultivated, it also provides edible seeds and an oil. Usually grown as a home crop, the plant is also sometimes cultivated commercially and sold in local markets[

An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.

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Properties

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Other Uses Rating

Habit

Annual

Height

1.00 m

Growth Rate

Fast

Pollinators

Bees, Self

Self-fertile

Yes

Cultivation Status

Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Brassica carinata is very tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions and can be grown from the temperate to tropical zones. In cool temperate it is only suitable as a leaf crop, but in other areas it can also be grown for its seed. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 10 - 25°c, but can tolerate 5 - 35°c[

An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.

].
There is a difference in first flowering date between oil types and vegetable types; oil types start flowering about 10 weeks after germination, vegetable cultivars after about 12 weeks, depending on cultivar and growing conditions. Flowering of vegetable cultivars is delayed by regular harvesting of the leaves or young shoots[

An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.

].
Some tall cultivars, when grown with adequate moisture, may develop new shoots after removal of the infructescences and become perennial, normally for one further season, but plants of up to 4 years old have been recorded[

An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.

].
Most Brassica species are cross-pollinating, which contributes to the great diversity within species. Brassica carinata is an exception as it sets seed very efficiently through self-pollination without insects acting as pollinators[

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

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Research has produced a collection of lines with characteristics suitable for modern agriculture. Varieties are available, including different oil types, such as low erucic (0%) and very high erucic (+ 50%) content[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.